Class C Leak

[Shirlv]

I posted details on the gtg site but thought I would start a new post. Class C's are notorious for leaks in the cabover area. I was aware of this so bought a rv without the window thinking this would solve the problem, wrong. I was told the leak had been going on for a years. The rain in the east this spring was overload. The shop called for me to see the damage once they had removed the fiberglass. The wood was like a sponge, you could pull it apart. I had no warning, musty odor or visible damage inside until this spring. Physical limitation prevented me from checking the roof but a friend had checked the roof and saw no signs of a leak. I had planned to have the rv recaulked this year because I thought it needed it.

I hope this helps someone from making the same mistake. I am not sure how often you should have your rig recaulked but I will find out. I would appreciate any advice on this topic.

[Nasoosie]

I didn't know this about Class Cs----good thing to know, as I am contemplating trading my truck and trailer for a self-contained unit I would feel more secure using, parking, backing up, etc. Guess I will concentrate on Class Bs rather than Cs.

I sure hope you can get your rig rebuilt without spending more than its now worth. It's horrible to have to dig into your retirement fund to pay for it. But, whatever the outcome, I sure hope you will have a safe, dry rig to travel in!

[retiredhappy]

I had always heard it was the window in the C's that had a tendency to leak. I've never had a problem with mine (its a 2001) but I have the caulking checked EVERY year. Any rig will leak if the caulking goes bad. I like the ones with the entertainment center instead of a bed up front anyway.

[OutandAbout]

Some truck campers have the same problems as the "C"s concerning the leaks. The ones that have a window are more liable to leak from what I've read on the TC forums. Good reminder for me to check the roof and caulking. These types of leaks are truly horror stories. I do hope that yours can be fixed reasonably, if not maybe insurance will pay for it. Either way, good luck. Linda

[Shirlv]

The leak occurred at the seam where the cabover attaches to the roof. The water traveled under the fiberglass slowly rotting the wood. It took the spring rains to cause it to leak inside. The caulk on that seam appeared to be good. You would have thought with all of the leaking there would have been a musty smell inside but there was nothing. I have heard good things about Eternabond. I will have that put over that seam and hopefully will never have to worry about that again.

[Cedar518]

Sure bad news Shirl. Sorry to hear this. At the dealer when I picked up my new rig yesterday the techs told me to check the roof and all possible leak points 2xyr. I won't be able to get on roof either. So I guess it will mean taking it to them to have it done. If I put someone like my grandson up there he won't really know what he's looking for.

Sure hope that you can get this resolved without such a huge cost. Hopefully, right?

[Shirlv]

This will be a very expensive lesson. Zee said check every year and your dealer said x2. I will certainly follow those instructions. I called the insurance company this morning, they are sending an adjuster. I don't think it will be covered but it doesn't hurt to ask.

[Bethers]

I make checking my roof one of my regular maintenance checks - like water in the batteries, etc.

That said, I got a leak along one edge when a gas station put a sign in a place that scraped my roof, and while I've repaired it - occasionally it needs to be redone. The last time - here in AK, it leaked and I was up the next sunny day repairing.

Now, if you have a rubber roof, make sure the product you purchase to repair this does NOT have silicone in it. I think I put the name of one of the good products in another thread here - don't have access to look it up now. Well, duh, it's on here - so here's the paragraph from that post:

There are a couple products made to seal those items (air conditioners, etc) where they meet the rubber roof. What you want to buy is the sealant called LAP SEALANT. It will be made for this purpose (Dicor is one manufacturer of it - Dicor makes most of the rubber roofs). LAP Sealant will not have silicone in it - and whatever you do - do not use any sealant on the roof with silicone. It will not hold on the rubber roof.

The hardest part - with my leak, there is nothing to tell by looking, it has to leak again for me to know to reseal. But it doesn't hurt to just put more sealant on areas around all the edges occasionally.

[cnanago]

I, too have had 2 leaks in my new baby, (2006 Winnebago Outlook) this summer; one was the fitting on the pipe going into the shower (these things are all plastic and shake loose and begin to leak, very common apparently) and the other, well, went up on roof and looks like previous owner had some repairs done to the washroom vent and the caulking used apppears to be regular household caulking and it was all cracked. Picked up "PROFLEXRV" from RV dealer. hope it works, if anyone has tried it let me know.

[Shirlv]

I have read good things about Proflex and have used it on my rv(not the cabover ) I just bought a $100 roll of EternaBond too. My Maverick might look like a patchwork quilt when I am finished but I dare it to leak. I am laughing to keep from crying.

[Shirlv]

Woo! Hoo! The Maverick is ready. I went to the ocean for a couple of days and there was a message when I returned "the rv is ready". It won't be washed and spit shined but hopefully I will be at the Pa. gtg.

[mitch5252]

..

CONGRATULATIONS, Shirl!!!
Have a great visit at the GTG with your new roof!

..

[Paulette]

I sure hope washed and spit shined isn't a requirement for the GTG! I will take a shower, but the RV will not be washed and spit shined!

[Shirlv]

I picked up the rv and the front that was repaired looks great, nice and clean. My husbands German grandmother use to scrub her porch on rainy days like today. I thought how easy it would be to wash the rest of the rv since it had been soaking in the rain. naaaah!